GOP: Gregoire plan ‘short on details, long on bureaucracy’

Gov. Chris Gregoire and majority Democrats have helped push Washington’s budget into “crisis” and the Legislature must create a better environment for main street businesses and cut spending to solve the state’s $4.6 billion budget problem, Rep. Ann Rivers said Tuesday.

Given the Republicans’ response to Gregoire’s state of the state address, the La Center lawmaker said the governor’s proposals to fix the budget were “short on details and long on bureaucracy.”

Majority Democrats have continually passed unsustainable spending plans and she said now the Legislature should:

Focus on strengthening the economy by creating jobs.

And balance the budget without tax increases.

The unemployment insurance system and workers’ compensation program that businesses have long complained about need to be reformed, Rivers said, and unnecessary regulations need to be eliminated.

“Folks want to know that state government is working for them, not against them,” Rivers said.

And, noting that voters in November rejected proposals to raise taxes, Rivers said any solution must come from cutbacks.

“We want you to keep your hard-earned money in your pocket and use it for your family’s priorities.”

Rep. Gary Alexander, R-Olympia, however said some of the governor’s proposals were “bold.” He said he thought the GOP caucuses were probably closer to the governor’s ideas than lawmakers in her own party.